New chitinozoan species from the Devonian of the Paraná Basin, south Brazil, and their biostratigraphic significance

Devonian chitinozoans from two wells in the north-northwestern outcrop belt of the Paraná Basin, and three in the eastern outcrop belt of the same basin, have been investigated for this study. A new, hitherto undescribed chitinozoan assemblage of Early Devonian, pre-late Emsian age is recognized above the Ramochitina magnifica Lange interval range Zone, in addition to new species from younger Devonian beds. A new Early Devonian biozone, the Ancyrochitina pachycerata interval range Zone, is erected. Altogether, 16 new species are described of which 10 are left in open nomenclature due to insufficient number of well-preserved specimens. The biostratigraphy of the new chitinozoan species is compared with the chitinozoa and miospore zones previously recognized in the Paraná Basin, and to standard conodont zonation.